Beijing: Following threats from Israel against Mojtaba Khamenei, China has said that it opposes any targeting of the newly appointed supreme leader of Iran who succeeded his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday.
Iran’s decision to appoint Mojtaba Khamenei is an “an internal matter” of the country, Beijing said, opposing any interference by another country.
“China opposes interference in other countries’ internal affairs under any pretext, and Iran’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity should be respected,” the country’s foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said.
The naming of Mojtaba was made through Iran’s constitutional process, he said, as reported by News18.
The statement comes amid rising tensions in West Asia. Beijing had earlier condemned US-Israeli strikes on Iran, calling it “illegal aggression”. China has called for a ceasefire, and urged restraint.
China has its own interests – such as the Belt and Road Initiative – in the region to protect.
The country’s support for Iran spans diplomatic, economic, and military-technical channels. Diplomatically, officials such as Foreign Ministers Wang Yi and Mao Ning have backed Iran’s sovereignty and engaged with interim leadership to ensure continuity.
Beijing also continues to purchase 80-90% of sanctioned Iranian oil, maintaining a 25-year pact worth $400 billion that is considering financial aid. Militarily, China has pre-positioned missiles, drones, and cyber capabilities, with cautious supply of components to avoid US sanctions.
